Wire-feeding device.



4 a o. PATENTED SEPT. a 1907. 86 6 w. P. RANDALL.

WIRE FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIQI FILED J AILQ. 1907- 2 SHEETS-51111111 2.

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PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM P. RANDALL, OF LE ROY, NEW YORK.

WIREFFEEDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed January 2, 1907. Serial No- 350.489.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. RANDALL, of Le Roy, in the county ofGcnesee and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wire-Feeding Devices; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thespecification, and to the reference-nu1ncrals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to improvements in devices for feeding orcontrolling the feed of wire from a suitable supply to wire workingmachines of Va rious kinds wherein the wire is to be used, and theobject of the invention is to provide a device of this kind havingcooperatively arranged feed rolls so mounted and driven that the wire isfed efiiciently without undue strain on the rolls and their cooperatingparts, and furthermore, to provide a device embodying improvedcontrolling'means for the feed rolls whereby the feed of the wireextending between them may be controlled without the necessity ofinterrupting the operation of: the rolls, the device shown in thepresent instance being especially adapted to be employed between amachine having a step-by-step feed and the usual freely revoluble supplyreels whereby the unevenness in movement of the wire being drawn intothe machine is compensated for in order to insure an even movement ofthe supply reels, and the supply of wire is accurately regulated.

To these and other ends the invention consists in centain improvementsand combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claimsat the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of a wirefeeding device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is anend elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicatingthe position of the controlling lever when the feed rolls are separatedto discontinue the feed of the wire. line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 4 represents a section on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.Fig.6 represents a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

The wire feeding device shown in the present embodiment of my inventionis provided with controlling devices wherein the relative tension oramount of slack in the wire leading from the machine is utilized tocontrol the feeding operation of the machine, and it is especiallyadapted for use in connection with machines having a stcp-by-step orirregular feed movement, such for instance, as machines formanufacturing wire fencing, wherein the cross wires are applied to Fig.3 represents a sectional view on thethe strand wires during a pause inthe feed movement of the strand wires, and in the present instance thesecontrolling devices feed the wire in quantities determined according tothe amount of wire actually required, so that the wire is under controlat all times.

This machine in the present instance comprises a bed 1 supported bystandards 2 and 3, and having end bearings 4 and 5 mounted on the endsthereof, the latter being provided with bearings 6 and 7 wherein arejournaled the opposite ends of a relatively fixed shaft 8 carrying a setof feed rolls 9 corresponding in number to the number of wires it isdesirable to feed to the machine or other device wherein the wires areto be employed. Beneath the shaft for the upper ions is journaled aroll-operating shaft 10 by means of which the lower cooperating rollsare driven, this shaft being mounted in the end bearings previouslydescribed and having a set of roll adjusting or pressure levers 11having the general form of a bell crank, one arm 12 of which is bored toloosely fit the shaft 10 and each having a laterally extended journalsleeve or hub 13 j ournaled in a bearing 14 secured by a bracket orother suitable means directly to the top of the bed, the hubs 13 of theseveral levers cooperating with the bearings 14 as fulcrums to sustainthe pressure between the feed rolls during the feed operation.

Fixed to the shaft 10 are a set of pinions 15 corresponding in number tothe number of feed rolls employed, and on each roll-adjusting orpressure lever at a point between its fulcrum and operating arm isjournaled a feed roll 16, the latter being provided with a pinion 17arranged to turn therewith and to 006perate with the driving pinion 15on the operating shaft 10, the movement of the roll-adjusting leverabout the bearing 14 as a fulcrum serving to move the roller 16 intocooperative relation with its corresponding upper roller 9, the pinions15 and 17 remaining in cooperative relation irrespective of thepositions of the feed rollers, by the fact that the roll-regulating oradjusting lever turns about the operating shaft 10 as a center. It ispreferable to drive the upper and lower feed rollers at the sameperipheral speed, and this is accomplished in the present instance byproviding gears 18 and 19 on the shafts 8 and 10 respec-.

tively, having diameters varying in ratio to that of the rolls, that isto say, the gear 18 will be double the diameter of the gear 19 in caseswhere the roll 9 is double the diameter of the roll 18, and these gearsare connected by an intermediate gear 20 mounted on hearing arms 21 onthe end bearings. Of course, the ratio of diameters of the cooperatingrolls may be varied as desired, and in any case the diameters of thedriving gears on the shafts 8 and 10 respectively will becorrespondingly proportioned to insure the same peripheral speed ofthese wire feed rolls, the intermediate gear 20 serving to revolve therolls in the proper directions.

The free arms of the roll-adjusting levers or members 11 extend somedistance below the bed, and each lever is provided at its lower end witha yielding abutment or connection which may be adjusted relatively to acooperating part to vary the amount of pressure produced between thefeed rolls at each feeding operation, this connection in the presentinstance being in the form of a leaf spring 22 having one end fixed tothe lever and its other end doubled or provided with a bond as at 23, anadjustable stop in the form of a set screw 24 extending through theregulating lever behind the spring and having its inner end bearingagainst a plate 25, the latter cooperating with the bend in the springand serving to adjust the position thereof relatively to the free end ofthe lever, the bend in the spring permitting the latter to yieldrelatively to the operating lever when pressure is applied thereto.

Each of the operating levers is preferably provided with one of theseyielding abutments or connections in cases where it is desirable to socontrol the operation of the feed rolls as to frequently throw thelatter into and out of feeding operation, and in such instances a cam 26is provided to cooperate with the abutment on each lever, these cams inthe present instance being loosely mounted on a common supporting shaft27 and the latter in turn is supported by bearing brackets 28 supportedon cross pieces 29 on the standards, these cams being set in theirproper positions on the supporting shaft relatively to their respectivecontrolling levers by means of collars 30 and 31 arranged on each sidethereof and provided with set screws 32 by means of which they may besecured in adjusted position. Each of these cams has a pro jecting oroperating portion 33 arranged to engage the spring 22 when the cam isrotated in one direction to move the feed rolls in cooperative relation,and having a recessed portion 34 arranged to permit the retraction ofthe controlling member to separate the feed rolls and discontinue thefeed movement when the cam is rotated in an opposite direction, and inthe present instance these cams are adapted to be operated by a leverwhich is controlled in its movements by the amount of slack in the wireleading from the machine, that is to say, the control of the machine iseffected by the actual condition of the Wire. Each of these controllinglevers is preferably adjustable angular-1y in relation to the cam, beingpivoted at 38 and provided with an adjusting screw 39 having a portionresting in a segmental slot 40 formed in the cam that will permitadjustment to vary the relation between the latter and the controllinglever.

The Wire is fed to the feed rolls preferably through a wirestraightening device 41 or through a suitable guiding device that willinsure entrance of the Wire between the rolls, as in the presentinstance, the surfaces of the rolls are preferably flat so that the wirewill be pressed between parallel operating surfaces, a wirestraightening device being preferably employed which will also serve asa guide for insuring the proper entrance of the wire between the rolls,and the feed rolls are preferably driven continuously,

the driving wheel 42 being secured to the shaft 8 to receive a chain,belt or other power-transmitting device, by means of which continuousmotion may be imparted to the rolls.

When the controlling levers occupy the positions shown in full lines inFig. 2, the feed rolls will be disengaged from the wire, the pressurewill be relieved and the Wire will not be fed or advanced. However, whenthe controlling lever is elevated into the position indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 2, the projections 33 on the cam 26 cooperatingwith the yielding abutment 22 on the roll adjusting member 11 willoperate the latter to bring the lower feed rolls 16 into cooperativerelation with its corresponding upper roll 9, pressing the wire betweenthe rolls with sufiicient pressure to feed it forward. This yieldingabutment or connection is particularly advantageous when the movementsof the controlling members are controlled by the amount of slack in thewire between the feed rolls and the machine to which the wire is fed, asthe amount of slack therein'varies at times between considerable limits,and in order to produce a substantially even pressure on the wire whenthe feed rolls are thrown into cooperative relation that will graduallystart the wire forward and avoid excessive pressure that would flattenthe wire and strain the rolls and their bearings and operating parts, itis preferable to employ the yielding connection described above, as itwill yield when the pressure between rollers exceeds a given limit frominequality of wire. This is true also in cases where the feed rolls arecontrolled by means of an appropriate mechanical connection between themachine using the wire and the Wire supply device.

In controlling the operation of the feed rolls according to the amountof slack in the wire, the wire leading from each pair of rolls, thoughthe tension spring may be dispensed with using only the slotted collarsof suitable weight to insure dropping, is preferably threaded through ahelical spring 35 having suflicient flexibility to permit the wire toassume the proper curvature when it is hanging loosely between the feedroll and the machine in connection with which it is used, and on thisspring is fitted a collar 43 having a headed screw or projection 44 onone side adapted to fit in a slot 45 provided in the upper or free endof the controlling lever, this slot being preferably open at the upperside of the collar to admit the projection of the collar and to retainthis projection in the angular portion 46 by reason of the weight of thecontrolling lever. This collar is preferably formed of a casting havinga bore 47 adapted to receive the spring 35 and having a radial slot 48leading inwardly to this bore, this slot being of a width sufficient topermit the entrance of the wire so that the spring may be applied to thewire and the latter passed laterally through the slot 48 thus avoidingthe necessity of threading the wire through the collar. In order tomaintain a proper tension in the wires between the feed rolls and themachine using the wire, it is prefer able to apply weights either to thecontrolling lever or to the tension spring and for this purpose it ispreferable to so construct the collars 43 as to enable them to beapplied interchangeable to the spring 35 or to the controlling lever,one of the collars being shown so applied in Fig. 2, and to accomplishthis result, the wire receiving slot 48 should be formed to snugly fitan edge of the controlling lever and to secure a hold sufficient toretain it on the controlling lever at any position at which it isplaced, the distance of this weight from the center of movement of thelever determining the amount of tension to which the wire will besubjected.

In controlling the operation of the feed rolls according to the amountof wire actually required, of which one method is shown in the presentinstance, the controlling lever will be lifted when the slack in thewire is taken up or the tension thereof increases, and this cause thepressure of the feed roll on the wire to be relieved, the feed movementof the wire being thus discontinued.

It is generally preferable to control the wire supply according to theamount of wire actually needed, as the feed devices operating in thisway do not ordinarily require the care of an attendant. It is alsoadvantageous to control the wire feed by relative adjustment of the feedrolls, as the latter may be driven continuously by means of a simpledriving connection, thus i avoiding the use of clutches cams, or othercomplicated and expensive mechanism for controlling their movement, andas the feeding movement of the wire is produced by a yielding pressurethereon from the feed rolls, it will result that the wire is graduallystarted, and this is an advantage, as the drawing of the wire from thesupply rolls, when these are employed, will be more or less regular,thus avoiding tangling of the wire. The controlling lever makes thisfeed mechanism a universal accessory to all wire working machines byreason of the adjusting feature through the bolt connection of levers inthe radial slot of the cam; that is to say, by adjustment of this leverin the radial slot of the cam, the pressure of the feed rolls on thewire may be let off at any point desired. In practice the slackrepresents a given feed or movement of the machine, or a mulitiple ofsuch feed, and of course, the operator may choose any given slackconformable to the requirements of machines by setting lovers to throwout at the proper point. i

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a pair ofcooperatively arranged feed rolls, and a pivoted member adjustablysupporting one of said rolls in relation to the other roll, of aroll-driving device journaled concentrically with said member andoperatively connected to the corresponding feed roll, and operatingconnections between said roll-driving device and the relatively fixedroll.

2. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a relativelystationary feed roll, an adjustable feed roll adapted to cooperatetherewith, and a pivoted pressure lever supporting the adjustable roll,of a roll-driving device mounted concentrically with said lever andcooperating with the roll supported thereon, and a positive drivingconnection between the relatively stationary roll and said roll'drivingdevice.

3. In a wire feeding device, the combination with the cooperativelyarranged feed rolls adapted to receive the wire between them, of apivoted lever supporting one of said rolls to permit relative adjustmentbetween the rolls, a

gear mounted concentrically with said lever, a driving gear for saidadjustable roll cooperating with the first mentioned gear, and a drivingconnection arranged be tween the first-mentioned gear and the relativelystationary roll.

4. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a suitable bed, and arelatively fixed feed roll mounted thereon, of a roll-adjusting memberhaving a hearing portion thereon, a roll mounted on said membereccentrically of'the bearing portion and adapted to cooperate with therelatively fixed roll, a bearing supported 011 the bed and cooperatingwith the bearing portion of the adjusting member as a fulcrum, a rolldriving shaft mounted concentrically of the bearing for the adjustingmember, an operative connection between the roll driving sha' and thefeed roll on the adjusting member, and means for op erating the rolls tofeed the wire between them.

5. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a suitable bed, and afeed roll mounted to turn thereon. of a roll-adjusting member having abearing portion thereon. a bearing supported on the bed and cooperatingwith the bearing portion of the adjusting member, a roll mounte. on saidmember eccentrically of the pivotal center of the latter and adapted tocoiiperate with the first-mentioned roll, a roll-driving shaft mountedconcentrically with the axis of movement of the adjusting lever,coiiperating pinions mounted to turn with the roll driving shaft and thefeed roll on the adjusting member respectively, and means for operatingthe rolls to feed the wire between them,

(i. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a shaft carrying aset of feed rolls, of a set of pivoted adjusting levers, a feed rollcarried by each lever and adapted to cooperate with a corresponding rollon said shaft, :1 driving shaft mounted in alinement with the axes ofsaid levers, driving devices secured to said driving shaft andoperatively connected to the respective feed rolls on said levers, andgearing connecting said shafts for driving the feed rolls.

i. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a support and arelatively fixed feed roll mounted thereon, of a lever, a feed rollmounted thereon and arranged to cooperate with the fixed roll, a bearingfixed to the support and serving as a pivot or fulcrum for said lever, ashaft mounted axially of said lever, a driving device carried by saidshaft and operatively connected to the feed roll on said lever, and adriving connection between the said shaft and the stationary feed roll.

8. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a suitable support,and a feed roll mounted thereon, of a feed roll adapted to cooperatewith the iirstanentioned roll and having a gear connected thereto, alever carrying the adjustable roll and having a bearing sleeve thereon,a bearing bracket secured to the support and adapted to receive thebearingsleeve of the lever, a shaft passing concentrically through thebearing sleeve of said lever, a gear on said shaft cooperating with thatof the adjustable feed roll, and a driving connection arranged betweenthe first-mentioned feed roll and the said shaft.

9. In a wire feeding device, the combination with a pair ofcooperatively arranged feed rolls, and a member for relatively adjustingsaid rolls to control the feed of the wire passing therethrough, of acontrolling lever operating on said member for controlling the Wirefeeding operation of said rolls.

10. In a wire feeding device, the combination with the cooperativelyarranged feed rolls, and means for controlling the supply of Wire fedbetween said rolls, of a tension device cooperating with the wire afterleaving the feed rolls, means for varying the tension produced on thewire by the tension device, and operative connections between thetension device and the controlling means for the feed rolls.

11. In a wire feeding device, the combination with cooperativelyarranged feed rolls for feeding wire between them from a suitablesource, and devices for producing a yielding" pressure between the feedrolls, of means controlled by the tension of the wire after leaving thefeed rolls for controlling the feeding operation thereof.

12. In a Wire feeding device, the combination with cooperativelyarranged feed rolls for feeding wire from a &

suitable source. and a pressure member for relatively adjusting the feedrolls, of a controlling lever, and a cam thereon cooperating with theroll adjusting member for controlling the wire feeding operationthereof.

13'. In a wire feeding device, the combination with cooperativelyarranged feed rolls. and a pressure member for moving the rolls into andout of cooperative relation, of a controlling lever, and a cam thereoncooperating with the pressure member for controlling the wire feedingopera tlon of the rolls.

14. In a wire feeding device, the combination with cooperativelyarranged feed rolls, and a pressure member for adjusting the pressurebetween the rolls, of a controlling lever. and a yielding connectionbetween said lever and member for limiting the amount of pressureexerted between the rolls.

15. I11 a wire feeding device, the combination with co operativelyarranged feed rolls, a pressure member [or controlling the pressurebetween the rolls, and a spring a1 nged on the pressure member, of acontrolling lever having a cam arranged to cooperate with said spring onthe pro ire member for operating the latter to control the wire fc dingoperation of the rolls.

10. In a wire feeding device, the combination with cooperativelyarranged feed rolls, and a pressure member for controlling the feedingoperation of the rolls, of a controlling member arranged to cooperatewith the pressure member to control its operation, and means foradjusting the relation between said members for varying the pressureproduced on the wire by the feed rolls.

17. In a wire feeding device, the combination with cooperativelyarranged feed rolls, and a pressure member for controlling the feedingoperation of the rolls, of a controlling lever, a cam operativelyconnected thereto, a yielding spring mounted on the pressure member andar ranged to cooperate with the cam on the controlling lever to producea yielding pressure on the wire extending between the feed rolls.

18. I11 a wire feeding device, the combination with cooperativelyarranged feed rolls, and a pressure member for moving them into and outof cooperative relation, 013a controlling lever arranged to operate thepressure member, a tension device cooperating with the wire afterleaving the feed rolls, and a detachable connection between saidcontrolling lever and the tension device.

1.). In a wire feeding machine, the combination with cooperz ivelyarranged feed rolls, and a member for relatively adjusting them, of acontrolling lever arranged to operate said member to move the feed rollsinto and out of cooperative relation, a helical spring surrounding thewire after the latter has left the feed rolls for taking up the slack inthe wire, and an operative connection between said spring andcontrolling lever for operating the latter according to the amount ofslacl: in the wire.

20. In a wire feeding device, the combination with suit able feeddevices, and a lever for moving said devices into and out of operativecondition, and a tension device (:0- operating with the wire afterleaving the feed devices and operativcly connected to the said lever forcontrolling the operation of the latter according to the amount of slackin the wire, and a device for proportioning the amount of slack in thewire and adapted to interchangeably fit the controlling lever and saidtension device embodying a weight having a slot therein adapted tosnugly lit the said lever, and a bore adapted to fit the tension devicewhen the weight is applied thereto.

WILLIAM I". RANDALL.

